Authorities Raid Home of Possible Bitcoin Founder
That didn't take long
Earlier today, investigations by Wired and Gizmodo presented a strong, albeit circumstantial, case that Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto was actually Australian tech businessman Craig Steven Wright.
And now, via The Guardian:
On Wednesday afternoon, police forced open a home belonging to Craig Wright, who had hours earlier been identified in investigations by Gizmodo and Wired, based on leaked transcripts of legal interviews and files. Both sites have indicated that they believe Wright to have been involved in the creation of the cryptocurrency.
More than 10 police personnel arrived at the house in the Sydney suburb of Gordon at about 1.30pm. Two police staff wearing white gloves could be seen from the street searching the cupboards and surfaces of the garage. At least three more were seen from the front door.
Guardian Australia understands the raids are not related to the claims surrounding Wright being involved in the creation of bitcoin, but are related to an Australian Tax Office investigation.
Part of Wired's case relied on a leaked transcript of a meeting between Wright, his attorney, and officials from the tax office. "I did my best to try and hide the fact that I've been running bitcoin since 2009," Wright reportedly said in the meeting. "By the end of this I think half the world is going to bloody know."
The Tax Office won't comment about whether they met with Wright, citing confidentiality laws. The raid may not be about the claim that Wright is the founder of Bitcoin, but it could be about taxes owed as a result of Wright's involvement with the cryptocurrency.
